News 11:00

BULLETIN 18 May 11 am

Good morning. I am……..

In this bulletin:

# Ramaphosa says investors have confidence in South Africa as an attractive investment destination
# The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption dismisses reports on Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi’s arrest warrant 
# And rugby: The Bulls’ coach says there are key focus areas for improvement ahead of the URC quarterfinals

# President Cyril Ramaphosa says the fact that international and domestic investors are willing to commit capital to South Africa demonstrates confidence in the country as an attractive investment destination. Since government launched the first national investment drive in 2018, there have been 1.5-trillion-rand in pledges, and 634-billion-rand has already been invested into factories, mines, data centres, power plants and other infrastructure. In his weekly newsletter, Ramaphosa says government is creating the conditions for growth and providing the necessary policy certainty for investors.

# The EFF says the court action by the Helen Suzman Foundation, seeking to remove Julius Malema from participation in the Judicial Service Commission, is politically motivated. In the court application, the foundation argues Parliament must assess whether Malema remains fit to serve on the JSC, given his recent conviction and repeated public attacks on the judiciary. The EFF says the timing of this litigation confirms it forms part of a broader political campaign to deflect public attention away from Ramaphosa’s failures and scandals.

# The Investigating Directorate Against Corruption has dismissed reports it has a warrant of arrest for KwaZulu-Natal police commissioner Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi, amid social media rumours about his imminent arrest on allegations of torturing suspects during questioning. IDAC spokesperson Henry Mamothame says these rumours are clearly started to disrupt and distract the work of the directorate, as well as the responsibilities that Mkhwanazi is discharging in the fight against crime:

Moving abroad: 

# Taiwan’s president, Lai Ching-te, says his country will not provoke or escalate conflict, but will also not relinquish its national sovereignty and dignity. Beijing considers Taiwan to be a part of its territory. Last week, in his meeting with US president Donald Trump, Chinese leader Xi Jinping said the Taiwan question was the most important issue in Chinese-US relations. He warned if mishandled, the two nations could collide or even come into conflict. Lai says Taiwan’s future must follow the will of all its citizens.

# Rugby: Bulls coach Johan Ackermann says they will have to improve in a few areas ahead of their United Rugby Championship quarterfinal against Ireland’s Munster at Loftus Versfeld next Saturday. The Bulls defeated Italian side Benetton 45-19 to secure a home quarterfinal, their sixth consecutive URC victory, consolidating their fourth spot on the table. Munster edged the Lions 24-17 to end fifth. Ackermann highlighted their execution on attack as a key focus area:

# And the financial indicators: The dollar trades at 16-rand-68-cents and the euro at 19-rand-41-cents. One British pound costs 22-rand-28-cents and Bitcoin trades at 76-thousand-918-dollars. Gold sells at four-thousand-544-dollars-37-cents a fine ounce and Brent crude oil is quoted at 107-dollars-22-cents a barrel.

Stay tuned for more news………….